On the 12th of March, a significant milestone was marked as we officially launched the “Vasectomy Champion” Initiative in Uganda at the Kati Kati Conference Hall in Kampala. The event drew in over 10 men who had previously undergone vasectomies and were eager to advocate for family health, particularly the vasectomy method, within their communities. The initiative aims to empower men to take an active role in family planning discussions and decisions, as experience shows that men who have had vasectomies are very effective at inspiring other men to consider the procedure.
Community Champions
Training
Vasectomy gives men more power to make the decision to control the family size.
A family that is planned is less likely to experience financial constraints and hence more likely to experience stability and responsible parenting.
Champion Selection and Representation
The 10 champions chosen for the initiative were strategically selected to ensure representation from various regions of Uganda. Notably, one of the champions is a police officer who underwent vasectomy six years ago and expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. The training session served as both a refresher course and a values clarification exercise.
Road to 100 Vasectomies in Uganda
The journey towards encouraging 100 men to undergo vasectomy began on the 18th of March with the first client receiving the procedure at Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) Katego clinic. Subsequently, more men have shown interest in vasectomy, indicating a positive response to the campaign.
